TDM 004

[etrayamods]

⏵ the usual arrival ⏴ NOTES\WARNINGS: Horror elements, themes of addiction, supernatural changes, light mind control Arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the sterile white glow of artificial lights, the hum of soft machinery thrumming in the background like a mechanical lullaby. The hospital room is pristine - almost too pristine - sterile, but oddly calming. Every surface gleams in a way that feels calculated as if someone had specifically designed the space to be comforting. Yet, a faint whiff of antiseptic clings to the air, and the silence feels unnatural. The first face they see is Aurora's: her smile appears to be warm, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She might offer a quick explanation, or leave characters to figure it out for themselves depending on their approach. The door to the room swings open, revealing a hallway that stretches out ahead of them. They're free to explore their surroundings now, but something tells them this place is more than just a hospital. The lobby is a stark contrast to the sterile rooms above. It's warm, almost welcoming. Currently, an array of cookie trays are strewn about the area just inside the door that leads them to the outside world, decorated with frosting shaped into leaves, pumpkins, and the occasional snowman. They aren't perfect, but - the companion bots tried their best, they're still figuring out this whole cookie decorating thing. At least most of the cookies are normal cookie flavors this time. However, it doesn't feel as if this is what they should be eating. Something is telling them to go outside. To find something more filling. ⏵ the unusual arrival ⏴ Perhaps you skip all of that, somehow, slipping through the cracks of the system. You arrive outside of the normal purview, outside of the hospital walls. Perhaps you come to, standing in line for a food truck covered in slime. You could be anywhere, though. At the Diner, perhaps the apartments, or a random shop. Anywhere. It’s okay, though. This has happened before, and they are more prepared for it. No matter where you are, the helper bots will be ready with a quick and convenient remedy. A companion bot approaches you, bidding you to step into a clear tube. Should you do so, it will seal before power-washing you from head to toe in an efficient handful of seconds. And then it will release you, sopping wet but clean! Oh dear, are you catching a bit of a chill? …They will come up with a solution for that next time, I’m afraid. ⏵ lunchtime ⏴ As the swelter of summer begins to fade into the first hints of autumn, a small fleet of food trucks arrives in each part of Etraya. When you arrive at one they offer a stamp card with a little map of Etraya and the location of each truck’s loop. "Make sure you don’t lose it," the cashier warns in a friendly tone despite their vague and shadowy visage. Once you begin sampling their offerings, stopping becomes near-impossible. The food is delicious--or seems to be. However, each dish comes with a catch, and the more you eat, the more its effects intensify. To break this curse, one must sample all and fill their stamp cards. Traveling between the Apartments, Hospital, Ramsey Farm, S.T.A.R. Labs, Bangsan Market, and Corrine’s Cafe, Bau Haus serves dumplings and bao so good you'll start feeling feral for them. And the more you eat, the more animalistic you become - your senses sharpen, your temper flares. Senses and reflexes may become sharper, and boy does that slab of uncooked meat sound satisfying. Do you feel the need to growl at people who come too close to you and your meal? Surely that can't be related. Moving between Hannibal Lecter’s house, Sector 5 Church, Wayne Tower, Daily Planet, Shinra HQ, and Clint Barton’s Apartment Building, the Owl Feather serves soothing tea and delicious boba. But overindulgence may make you overly affectionate and obsessed with helping others, whether they want it or not. Muy Biento serves Mexi-Japanese fusion bento boxes from the Avengers Compound, Bishop Publishing, Dhali-Wal-To-Wall Books, and Cafe Millennia. There are teriyaki chimichangas, tempura carne asada, carnitas onigiri, and more. After a meal, you begin seeing ghosts out of the corner of your eye, always vanishing when you turn to look. Serving fried chocobo and "popoto" wedges, The Golden Chocobo makes you ravenous no matter how much you eat. Soon, you'll be eyeing increasingly strange items to satisfy your hunger. It travels between Ebbet’s Field, the Diner, Wayne Manor, and the Bunker. Offering crepes between Xavier Institute, Harry’s Hideaway Pub, Roxx, Kwikk Trip, and Big Belly, Thyme Served’s food seems innocent enough—until the night terrors begin. The more you eat, the worse they get, with the truck still there the next day, calling for you. Perhaps… a banana one this time. Bill’s Buffalo Burgers travels between Beviin-Vasur Farm, Point Blanc Academy, and Muten-Ichi-Ryu Dojo and serves only one burger - topped with pork rinds for a satisfying crunch, but it sounds good to you. However, after your first bite, you're told there's a price: a lock of someone else’s hair. Refuse, and it will feel like hair is stuck in your mouth, driving you mad until you pay the price. After all that trouble, you go home and can’t stop thinking about getting another burger. Offering blue milkshakes and ice cream, repeated visits to the Milk Man will turn your tongue—and eventually your blood—blue. A creeping chill settles in, growing worse each time until no amount of warmth can help. ⏵ nova city ⏴ Nova City, vast and sprawling in its corner of Etraya, remains mostly abandoned. Its towering buildings stand silently, watching over empty streets where only stray cats and the occasional bird roam. The dragon, Zhaera, perches protectively atop the tallest spire at the heart of this desolate city. She has been guarding her egg since her arrival, waiting for the young dragon within to mature enough it can survive in the outside world. As its incubation period draws near, her anxiety grows. A tremor spreads through Etraya, an instinctive call to those nearby. As the egg nears its hatching, strange forces awaken within Etraya itself, spreading too into Nova City. Shadowy creatures crawl out from the ground, surrounding the tower the dragon and her unborn child have taken shelter on. The air crackles with the energy coming from the egg itself, and the cats throughout the city seem unsettled. The sheer amount of magic the egg gives off is enough to attract anyone capable of sensing it. The dragon, normally composed and fierce, appears to be visibly distressed by the changes going on in the city below it. Her maw opens, sending flames to ward off the inky black tendrils intent on getting to her egg. But she may need some assistance keeping it safe. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ This TDM covers September and October. The events happening in the TDM are game canon. Threads can be kept as game canon if wanted! For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please use the mod queries thread. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

Comments

Hikaru Shidou | Magic Knight Rayearth | new

[godkaru]

lunchtime

[The arrival had been find and all, and she'd gotten about as many answers from Aurora as she could. But Hikaru was still curious about everything, and set out to look around the area. Of course, finding a food truck.]

Mm... They'd want me to eat... And I am pretty hungry. [She doesn't know what kind of money they take, but she knows she thinks best on a full stomach. Then she can figure out how she should help here. And things worked out in Cefiro just fine with paying for things anyway, surely they could here.

She does find herself at the Muy Bento truck, staring at the options.]

Hey... what do you think is good?

[Of course after she's made her choice, the effect begins and she can be seen walking around constantly turning her head sharply trying to catch sight of the ghost. So much so, in fact, she occasionally runs into a corner, or even you!]

I'm sorry!

nova city

[Hikaru ends up finding her way to Nova City. While there aren't many other animals besides the cats and birds, she follows the sound to the building Zhaera is perched on.

For all that Hikaru is smiling happy usually, she looks solemnly up at the dragon.]

An egg...? Hey- [The tiny redhead will reach for the nearest person.] What's going to happen to the egg? Should we help?

lunch time - run in

[banworthy]

Oof.

[ His response is a dialed up to try to gain even more sympathy. Of course, a simple side-step and hand on the shoulder would have ensured they never collided at all, but Vincent made the decision to let things play out as they may. ]

It's fine. [ He steps back and pushes his glasses up. ] Hey, are you all right? Kind of reckless to be running around like that, isn't it?

screams that username for vincent A+

[godkaru]

[Hikaru didn't see him doing it on purpose at all, or that he's playing up the reaction. Instead, she bows once before standing up straight again.]

I'm- Fine. I think, I'm just a little confused right now. [Hikaru looks around again, thinking she's seeing another ghost, of faint blond hair and cream colored skirt-] I'm probably just tired.

THANK YOU!!!

[banworthy]

That only makes sense. [ A beat. ] And I do share in your confusion, too.

I'd hate to give the impression that I know what's going on, but even so -- [ He trails off before pausing to look behind his shoulder. ] -- that, too, makes sense.

Why don't we find a place to sit and chat?

Re: THANK YOU!!!

[godkaru]

[She watches the man carefully, picking up on ... something, but she can't put her finger on it yet. The sights in the corner of her vision is too distracting, or she'd be a lot more wary.

Then again, not knowing what happened when she passed out before, or where Umi and Fuu are is even more distracting.]

That may be a good idea. Thank you.

[banworthy]

Of course.

[ Usually, at this moment, he'd make the grand confession that he's a priest and that it is his life's calling to help others. But his eyes roll as he admits to himself that is laying it on far too thick.

Ultimately, his goal is to find out more about the people around him. He doesn't recognize them as members of the Order. From what that woman said, the multiverses are collapsing. This means this person could very well be from some distant alternate world.

Vincent would attest to anyone that he still feels sane. He sees everything, recognizes the madness of the situation, and decides to do what he always does: look after himself.

With a small gesture, he indicates for her to follow him as he finds the nearest place for them to sit. ]

Introductions are in order, I think. My name's Vincent. Do you ... what do you know about what's going on? I had a bit of a chat with that woman who acted as a greeter. So, I can fill you in with anything you might have missed. At the very least, I can do that much. [ He does his best not to sound so petty and irritated when he uses the phrase: "that woman." But, well, he isn't using Aurora's name even though he knows it. ]

[godkaru]

[She follows the gesture, taking a mental note of everything around so she can remember where things are. You never know, it might help.]

Oh- I'm Hikaru. [Simple enough... 'Vincent' isn't as odd as other names she's learned but she still murmurs it to herself once or twice before she's got it.]

I payed attention to her as well, and I think I understand for the most part. At least the reason we're here. But I don't understand what exactly we're supposed to be doing to help...

[banworthy]

Hikaru.

[ He tips his head down, committing the name to memory. ]

You and me both. I don't have any powers so I can't imagine what I can do. [ But he does understand one point. ] Indeed, it is a bit vague, isn't it? Earning the favor of Echo to ensure our universe's survival.

I suppose we'll be given tasks and we'll have to complete them. In the tasks we are given, we'll be able to see what kind of entity that Echo is. Find what is it that pleases it and go from there.

[godkaru]

[He talks about it as if it's purely transactional - as if this is Echo's fault somehow. A different interpretation, of course given different lived circumstances, but not the one she'd take herself.

Hikaru can't help but wonder if this is what was waiting in the Road. Is this the Test then? She needs to be smart so she can truly make it through this and check on Eagle and everyone else.]

Maybe... Hopefully they'll be easy tasks. [It's what she hopes, anyway. She has no delusions that the tasks would be as simple as 'deliver a package' or something, but she could hope it wouldn't be as drastic as others she's done.]

I think if we all keep each other from panicking, we can manage it together.

nova city

[tinflower]

[ Who the tiny redhead approaches is a large, black-haired person: a half-orc, standing at 6'6, to be exact. There's a large axe strapped to his back, a backpack hanging off a shoulder, and he's also...looking up at the sight, a squint to his expression that leaves with a blink when he's spoken to and he looks at her...

...but then starts to come back as he looks between her and the building, towards where he knows the nest is. ]

Uh. [ Uhhhh. ] We can help. This isn't normal. [ Which is really the main issue here, to him... but he's looking at her again when he asks: ] Can you do anything?

[godkaru]

[Gorgug my man you are over a foot and a half taller than her but she can see that nervous energy a mile away.

She thinks for a second, looking at the skyscraper still before looking around at the shadows.]

I can fight. [She says with confidence and ease, someone who has clearly done enough of it.]

[tinflower]

[ Sometimes there is a big ol' mess happening and you're not really sure about anything and it confuses you, okay!! This is his state of life! ]

You can? You're sure? Okay, I'm trusting you. [ He'll pull the axe from off his back, pulling the straps of his backpack instead to fit more comfortable over where it is. He doesn't want that swinging around while he's trying to fight. ]

I don't how this'll go. I don't actually know anything.

[ The shounen energy is not with this one, folks. ]

[godkaru]

[Hikaru watches him for a moment, then smiles a little understanding what he's doing with his bag. She never tried to store anything else in her gem, but maybe that's something to experiment with outside the moment.

Instead, she closes her eyes and holds one hand over the large ruby gem of her glove and a red light and fiery warmth emits from it as she pulls out a large sword and her own armor transforms into something more fitting for battle.]

Just focus on keeping those monsters away from the building and you'll be fine. [It's probably a little weird that when she says it, she really sounds like she genuinely means it even if she's never met Gorgug before.] Stick close by me if you need to.

[tinflower]

[ If only we were all magical girls and didn't have to deal with backpacks. Actually, the thought has never occurred to Gorgug before, but being witness to someone getting full-blown armour and a weapon after fiddling with their glove?

He's definitely staring with surprise on his face.

He needs to get something like that!

But we can't get distracted now. Truthfully, it's weird to be spoken to like he's getting directed as to what to do, or even being offered protection. But he won't focus on it, instead-- ] Okay. We might need plenty room-- but you can stick by me too! If you want to.

[ Just putting that out there. But they also have very slash-y weapons... ]

[godkaru]

[Fig would make a badass magical girl, just sayin. She nods to that, moving to take up one side of the area so he can have the other with whatever space he needs.

But there is a small part of her, looking inwards and waiting to hear a familiar voice... but only meets silence. That isn't right. Then again maybe this is still part of the Test and she won't hear him anyway.

Not the time. Focus.]

Thank you. I'm Hikaru- we'll make sure nothing happens to that egg.

[tinflower]

Yeah! [ It's the kind of 'Yeah!' that's 90% agreement, and 10% the individual not sure how they got here. Is helping the dragon and egg worth it? Is it good? Gorgug guesses it can't be bad.

...and he's been roped into this now, so! ] Um, I'm Gorgug. I'll fight those ones.

[ He gestures out with his free hand towards the direction he's mostly in anyway--his side, to be exact. There's shadows in the direction ahead of them, but they'll work on those when they get there; usually, enemies don't generally like outsiders getting into their business. This is probably going to be the same case.

Gorgug twists his axe in his hands however, taking hold of it in both, since he'll need to run--and get a good enough speed to start jumping, once Hikaru seems ready to move.

You good, girl? ]

[godkaru]

[Don't worry about that, Gorgug, she has that effect on everyone.

She nods once at his agreement to fight the other side of the group. Perfect. A small part of her wishes the others were here. Umi could make some kind of water tsunami to push them all back at once, Fuu could put up a wind wall...

Hikaru doesn't want to risk destroying a lot of the buildings here with her magic, as useful as it'd be, so sword it is. She takes a breath and runs into action, taking swings at these monsters more to wound and push them away. But it's clear she does know what she's doing.

She glances back and sees one coming up between them at Gorgug's back.] Look out!

[For a brief moment, a thin stream of flame comes from Hikaru's fingertips to the shadow monster, sending it into a confused state.]

lunchtime

[maximumlegend]

[ Most people - when asked about what they think looks good - would give a normal answer. Mostly suggesting something they'd think looks good, really.

And yet Fabian.. doesn't. In fact, when he's stopped in passing by to be asked that question, his eyes go wide in surprise for a moment. He stares at Hikaru like she's grown a second head on her shoulder, and then leans in to whisper: ]

No matter what you do, do not eat any of that!

[ He's even making a slashing motion across his own throat with his hand. Mostly to put emphasis on what he's saying, but..

.. it does accidentally make what he's saying seem kind of like a threat, huh. ]

Re: lunchtime

[godkaru]

[Hikaru watches Fabian with curiosity, leaning in a bit as his eyes widen-

But she blinks back at the words, jumping a little at the motion.]

Wh....why? What happens?

[maximumlegend]

I don't know!

[ .. maybe it's not exactly the right answer to give in the light of the urgent tone he was using.. but Fabian can't help it. It's only true, after all. He really doesn't know what it does.

But there is a reason he was warning her all the same. It's not like he was just pranking her, after all. ]

But every time something appears out of nowhere here? It's bad! So bad, you have no idea! I don't even want to imagine what this food could do to a person!

[godkaru]

[She listens to that, really considers it. It could mean anything. The small fifteen year old looks from the food cart back to Fabian.]

It sounds like you've been here for a while. What sorts of things happen?

[If nothing else, she is curious.]

[maximumlegend]

[ He opens his mouth.

Then closes it again.

Sure, Fabian could start on a long rant here about the absolutely awful things that happen here, but something about Hikaru looks so.. innocent. He wants her to be cautious of the things in this place, sure, but he also doesn't want her to be totally freaked out. It makes him not go with what he'd instinctively say, but instead Fabian seems to pause to think about what he wants to say here - for once in his life. ]

Dangerous things. [ He starts, before moving to settle down by sitting down. Not at the food carts - he still doesn't trust them! - but maybe on top of a waist-height little stone wall or something. ] There are two things you have to watch out for in this place, really. There's stuff that's outright trying to attack you, and then there's stuff that tries to mess with your mind.

[godkaru]

[The innocence carries her through a lot and is quite contagious. Careful, Fabian.

She does listen though, seeming to take his words seriously as she follows where he sits. She doesn't sit herself, just focusing on what he's saying.]

How strong are these things? And where do they come from?

[At the very least, she doesn't look the least bit scared or like she isn't ready to hear it. She looks steadfast, eyes focused now and that innocence giving way to something a bit deeper.]

[maximumlegend]

They come from anywhere. It's hard to anticipate. That's why you have to be careful for any new thing that appears in this place!

[ That's the main message he wanted to pass on to her. Especially when she looks so relatively innocent..

.. but not innocent enough to be scared at the idea of it, huh. It's a little bit surprising, but then again, girls her age fighting monsters is a pretty common thing in Fabian's world, so he isn't too confused by the way she looks.

If anything, he just looks like he's in thought, trying to think of how to explain her other question to her. ]

As for their strength, uh.. [ ... ] Have you ever dealt with dangers like those? Monsters, or anything of the sort?

[ Might as well figure out what base line they're working with here before he tries to explain how powerful some of the threats in this place can be. ]

Nova City

[bigpoofymammoth]

If I had to guess, it looks like those shadow creatures are going to try to take it.

[Manny says as he watches the dragon fend off the horde that surrounded her nest. He knows the consequences of an egg being taken from their parent, given his recent adventure with dinosaurs back in his home universe.]

There’s no telling what they'd do if they manage to claim that egg, but it’s not going to be pretty for anyone out here.